Ring used in a small pupil phacoemulsification procedure

ABSTRACT

A ring that can maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops that capture iris tissue. The ring is configured to extend the pupil when iris tissue is inserted into each loop. An ophthalmic procedure such as phacoemulsification can then be performed on the patient. The ring has a center opening that provides a wide view of the ocular chamber during the procedure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/745,668, filed Jan. 17, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,602,456, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/661,982, filed Oct. 26, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,537,470, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/074,742, filed Mar. 5, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,323,296, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/918,405 filed on Mar. 15, 2007. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ring used in a ophthalmic surgical procedure.

Background Information

There are various ophthalmic procedures that require the dilation of the pupil. For example, cataracteous lenses are typically replaced in a procedure commonly referred to as phacoemulsification or phaco for short. In a phaco procedure the lens is broken up with an instrument, typically with an ultrasonically driven tool. The instrument has an aspiration port that aspirates the broken lens material from the patient's ocular chamber.

It is desirable to extend the pupil during a phaco procedure to provide the surgeon with a wide view of the lens. One technique for extending the pupil includes pulling back the iris with a series of plastic hooks. It is has been found that using plastic hooks can cause damage to iris tissue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A ring used to maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a ring of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an enlarged view of the ring;

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing iris tissue being inserted into a first loop of the ring;

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing iris tissue being inserted into a second loop of the ring;

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the iris tissue within gaps of the loops;

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a pupil being maintained in an extended position by the ring;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an injector and ring plate used to load and inject the ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

Described is a ring that can maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops that capture iris tissue. The ring is configured to extend the pupil when iris tissue is inserted into each loop. An ophthalmic procedure such as phacoemulsification can then be performed on the patient. The ring has a center opening that provides a wide view of the ocular chamber during the procedure.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a ring 10 that can be used to extend a pupil during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring 10 has a plurality of loops 12, 14, 16 and 18 located at the corners of four sides 20, 22, 24 and 26. Each loop 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be formed by one full turn. Although one full turn is shown and described, it is to be understood that each loop 12, 14, 16 and 18 may have multiple turns. The four sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 circumscribe a center opening 28.

The ring 10 preferably has a square configuration such that the sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are of equal dimension. Although a square ring is shown and described, it is to be understood that the ring may have a rectangular configuration where all sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are not of equal dimension. Additionally, the ring may have a nonrectangular shape. For example, the ring 10 may be shaped as a triangle that has three sides and three loops located at the ring corners. Although three and four sided rings have been described, it is to be understood that the ring may have any number of side and loops. The ring 10 is preferably constructed from a molded plastic material, although it is to be understood that other materials such as metal or plastic coated metal may be employed.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment for constructing the ring 10. One side 20 of the ring has two ends 30 and 32 that are butt attached by an adhesive 34. Each end 30 and 32 may have an indent 36 and 38, respectively. The adhesive 34 can flow into the indents 36 and 38 to increase the strength of the butt attachment of the ring 10. The indents 36 and 38 create surface structure that minimizes shearing and de-lamination of the adhesive 34 from the ring 10. By way of example, the adhesive 34 may be a biocompatible material such as Class VI epoxy. The adhesive 34 can be applied with a tool (not shown) that insures a repeatable volume and dimensions of the solidified adhesive form.

FIG. 3 shows the initial stages of the ring 10 being inserted into a patient's eye 50 to stretch the iris 52 and extend the pupil 54. A tool such as a forcep (not shown) can be used to pull the iris so that iris tissue is inserted into loop 14 of the ring 10. As shown in FIG. 4 , the ring 10 can be manipulated so that iris tissue is inserted into loops 12 and 16.

As shown in FIG. 1 , an example of the device of the present invention is a polygonal ring formed from a single strand. As shown in FIG. 5 each loop 12, 16, etc. has a gap 58 that receives and captures iris tissue. The gap is wedge-shaped and faces the periphery of the ring 10. It is formed between a top portion of the strand and a bottom portion of the strand. The loop design provides an easy means of inserting and capturing iris tissue. The flexibility of the ring 10 allows the loops to deflect and apply a clamping force onto the iris tissue. The clamping force assist in maintaining the position of the ring relative to the eye.

As shown in FIG. 6 iris tissue can be inserted into the second 14 and fourth 18 loops to fully stretch the iris 52 and extend the pupil 54. An ophthalmic procedure can then be performed on the eye. For example, a phaco procedure can be performed wherein the lens is emulsified and aspirated from the eye. The ring 10 maintains the pupil 54 in the fully extended position while the center opening 28 provides a wide viewing area during the procedure. When the procedure is complete one of the sides 20, 22, 24 or 26 can be cut with an instrument and the ring 10 can be removed from the eye.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an injector 100 that can be used to inject a ring 10 into a patient's eye. The ring 10 can be loaded into the injector with the use of a ring plate 102. The ring plate 102 may include a cover 104 that is attached to a base plate 106 by fasteners 108. The base plate 106 has a channel 110 and a recess 112. The recess 112 receives the ring 10.

The injector 100 includes a cannula 120 attached to a handle 122. Within the cannula 120 is a wire hook 124. The wire hook 124 is connected to an inner slide tube 126 located within the handle 122. A button 128 is attached to the inner slide tube 126. The injector 100 may also have a pair of guide pins 130 that are attached to the handle 122 and cooperate with corresponding channel features 132 of the base plate 106 to properly align the injector 100 when the cannula 120 is inserted into the base plate channel 110.

In operation, the cannula 120 is inserted into the base plate channel 110. When fully inserted the wire hook 124 extends to approximately the center of the ring 10. The cover 104 may have an opening 134 that allows an operator to visually see the hook 124 within the ring opening. An operator then pulls the button 128 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Pulling the button 128 causes the hook 124 to grasp the ring loops and pull the ring 10 into the cannula 120. The recess 112 has tapered walls 136 to assist in the ring collapsing within the channel 110 for insertion into the cannula 120. Once loaded, the ring 10 can be injected into a patient's eye by pushing the button 128 in the opposite direction.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A polygonal ring for expanding an eye of a patient during an ophthalmic procedure, the eye comprising an iris and a pupil, the polygonal ring comprising: a central opening; at least three corners disposed along the polygonal ring, wherein each corner includes a loop comprising a wedge-shaped gap facing away from the central opening, the wedge-shaped gap configured to capture tissue of the iris therein; and at least three side elements, each side element connecting adjacent corners of the at least three corners, wherein the polygonal ring is configured to transition between (i) a collapsed configuration wherein a first corner and a second corner of the at least three corners are separated by a first distance, and (ii) an expanded configuration, wherein the first corner and the second corner are positioned opposite one another across the pupil and separated by a second distance greater than the first distance.
 12. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein the polygonal ring is formed from a strand.
 13. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein each loop comprises a top portion and a bottom portion that form the wedge-shaped gap.
 14. The polygonal ring of claim 13, wherein each side element connects the top portion and the bottom portion of adjacent corners.
 15. The polygonal ring of claim 14, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion of each loop are disposed at an angle with respect to one another.
 16. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein each loop makes at least one full turn.
 17. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein the at least three corners comprise four corners and the at least three side elements comprise four side elements.
 18. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein the at least three corners are disposed equidistantly along the polygonal ring.
 19. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein the first distance is substantially less than a diameter of the pupil and the second distance is substantially equal to a diameter of the pupil.
 20. The polygonal ring of claim 11, wherein the central opening is sized and configured to allow access to the pupil therethrough during the ophthalmic procedure, wherein the central opening is disposed in a plane between the at least three side elements and the at least three corners.
 21. A method of implanting a continuous iris-expanding ring in an eye of a patient, the eye comprising an iris and a pupil, the method comprising: ejecting the continuous iris-expanding ring from a distal end of a cannula toward an iris of the eye, wherein the continuous iris-expanding ring is in a collapsed configuration in the cannula prior to being ejected; following ejecting the continuous iris-expanding ring from the distal end of the cannula, securing a distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring to the iris; and securing a proximal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring to the iris, wherein the continuous iris-expanding ring is in an expanded configuration when the proximal portion and the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring are secured to the iris of the eye and are positioned opposite one another across the pupil.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising inserting the distal end of the cannula into the eye.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein inserting the distal end of the cannula into the eye comprises inserting the distal end of the cannula into an anterior chamber of the eye.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein a first distance between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring in the collapsed configuration is different from a second distance between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring in the expanded configuration.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the continuous iris-expanding ring is fully expanded into the expanded configuration from the collapsed configuration after securing the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring to the iris of the eye.
 26. The method of claim 21, further comprising securing a first lateral portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring to the iris of the eye.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising securing a second lateral portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring to the iris of the eye.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the first lateral portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring is secured to the iris of the eye after the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring is secured to the iris of the eye.
 29. The method of claim 21, wherein a proximal end of the cannula is connected to an inserter handle and the method further comprises sliding a slider on the inserter handle to retract the hook through the cannula.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising moving the proximal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring away from the distal portion of the continuous iris-expanding ring while sliding the slider on the inserter. 